Norse growing stronger - WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |

WESTBY, Wisconsin (WXOW) - Westby football came off a turnaround season in 2011 looking for more of the same. Coach Dan Nelson took the Norse to the top of the Coulee Conference last year after a winless 2010.

Much of that turnaround is thanks to Westby's ground and pound run game, but we could see a new twist in the Norse offense this year. With an athletic quarterback in senior Emmitt Edwards, Westby could spread the ball around more.

Nelson said, "I don't like to tell too much about what we do or new twists, but we want to control the ball. We want to control the clock. That's still our motto. We have a good number of athletes and we need the athletes to touch the ball, so we'll try some ways to get the ball in their hand."

"No matter what, I think we're always going to come out and bring it, hit hard," added senior TE/OLB Alex Midtlien. "I know some kids don't really like being hit, but this last year, I guess they said we hit hard, so hopefully that continues over."

Westby opens the season at home this Friday against Richland Center.